MEDIA CONTACT
Amanda Woita, Department of Environment and Energy, (402) 471-4243, amanda.woita@nebraska.gov
Alycia Davis, Department of Health and Human Services, (402) 471-1449, alycia.davis@nebraska.gov
Lincoln, NE – Smoke associated with prescribed burning in the Central Plains region may affect the air quality in Nebraska.
Issued for: 9 p.m., April 15, 2025, through 10 a.m., April 16, 2025
Affected Area: Eastern Nebraska
Air Quality Index: Moderate AQI to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI
Potential Air Quality Impacts from Prescribed Burning
An advisory of possible Moderate (yellow) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange) Air Quality Index (AQI) impacts may occur in eastern Nebraska, potentially affecting Beatrice, Bellevue, Columbus, Fairbury, Lincoln, Nebraska City, Norfolk, Omaha, and York during the evening of April 15, 2025, through late morning April 16, 2025.
During Moderate AQI (yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience health effects. When conditions rise to the yellow category, those who are unusually sensitive are advised to consider shortening outdoor activities and reducing the intensity of these activities. Symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath are signs to take it easier.
During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, pregnant women, and outdoor workers. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities.
Advisories are issued for areas of anticipated impact by notifying the media and local health departments and posting information on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy's (NDEE) webpages and social media accounts. These advisories provide information to the public on the anticipated impacts on air quality and resources to help citizens protect their health and minimize exposure to smoke.
States monitor smoke levels and weather conditions to determine when impacts to air quality are anticipated. Advisories are based on data from the National Weather Service (NWS), the states of Kansas and/or Oklahoma, smoke plume modeling, and ambient air quality monitors located in Omaha, Blair, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
The following Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to describe air quality and suggest actions individuals can take to protect their health. This AQI is used nationally and is available in real-time for Nebraska by visiting https://www.airnow.gov.
For more information on smoke awareness, visit NDEE's website at https://dee.nebraska.gov/air/smoke-awareness-nebraska.
For more information on burn activity and a smoke outlook, visit the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management website at https://www.ksfire.org/.
View seasonal news releases for information on the Flint Hills burns at
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=583.
For AQI readings at individual ambient air monitors and sensors, please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/. The Environmental Protection Agency's 'AirNow' smart phone app can also be used to track air quality and fire activity.
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